Guilt got the better of me... the next chapter is also under construction. Enjoy!
Beyond the Darkness
Chapter Nine: Return of the Kimono
"Forgetting something?" Romiko smiled as she held up the same kimono Aiska had been carrying around with her for the past few weeks. With a groan, Aiska grabbed it along with the rest of her things.
"Surely you don't need to leave over an hour before you're supposed to start work?"
"Well, I don't know how long it might take."
"Just to return a kimono?"
"And get my own clothes back."
"This has something to do with the head of the house, doesn't it?" Romiko smiled knowingly.
"What are you implying?" Aiska snapped.
"Oh nothing." She laughed innocently. Aiska only sighed in frustration.
"Last time I was there he was, well… weird."
"Weird?" Romiko raised an eyebrow curiously.
"I'm just not going to take any chances." Aiska finished, sliding the door open just as the phone rang.
"You get that, and I'll see you later." She waved before heading off.
"Oh Aiska?" Romiko called after her a moment later. "Bad news, I'm afraid." She frowned with mock severity. "That was your work. They want you to come in early."
"How early?" She groaned.
"As soon as you possibly can."
"What? I guess I'll be there soon." Aiska sighed as she trudged up the stairs again and hung the kimono on the hall tree.
"Just return it tomorrow, it's your day off, isn't it?"
"Yes, I suppose I'll have to." Aiska hesitated, "See you later."
"Take care."
Aiska raced down the street; thankful that she did not have to drag the kimono along once more since there was no way she'd be able to find the time to stop by to see Akito.
"Just hope he hasn't lost my clothes." She muttered to herself as she jogged on, the thought of the Sohma estate's gates casting shadows over her slim form made her shiver nervously.
Akito leant against the fence, listening to the quickened footfalls on the sidewalk as his prey approached the gate entrance. He smiled wryly as he listened, expecting her to pause like she usually did. To his utter annoyance, Aiska raced on without so much as a glance into the courtyard. Akito's eyes narrowed dangerously as the young woman disappeared from his sight, clearly without a thought for him or his kimono.
"She's early today." He muttered to himself, his teeth clenched in anger. "How dare she be early." Straitening his kimono, Akito gradually wandered back into his garden where he seated himself beside the pond, now frozen over after last night's snowfall.
"You should not be out here." A voice broke the silence as Akito trailed his finger over the ice.
"And what business is that of yours?" Akito snapped, grasping a handful of snow in his fist.
"Someone must look out for your health, since you won't do it yourself." Hatori sighed, his hands buried in the pockets of his coat. Akito pressed his lips together, his eyes hard as he studied the doctor. With a sigh, Hatori seated himself on the porch, his head cocked as he met Akito's unwavering gaze.
"I hear it is Aiska's day off tomorrow." Hatori offered, pausing to gauge Akito's response.
"So?" Akito replied, his hair falling before his eyes.
"It is just a thought."
"And what are you implying?" Akito cocked his head, trying to hide his curiosity. Hatori shrugged as he stood.
"You could both use the company." Akito watched as Hatori bowed before vanishing around the building.
Hatori paused, leaning against the side of the building, listening as Akito eventually rose and made his way inside. Once he heard the door slide shut, Hatori pulled out a cigarette. As he lit it and took a deep breath, his mind wandered to Aiska.
'Please don't let us down, Aiska.'
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"It seems simple to me." Shigure stated over the phone, "They will either become best friends, or kill each other. The latter is more likely in my opinion."
"I've seen him watching for her each day she walks past."
"You reckon he'll kill her?"
"I don't think so." Hatori sighed, remembering when the two met. Aiska was certainly a handful. But what did he hope to achieve by this? The God had not even asked after her. Akito didn't even know she bore the same fate as he. But then, neither did Aiska.
"What are you hoping? That the two will fall madly in love?" Shigure laughed. "Somehow I can't see Akito opening his heart anytime soon."
"It's not that." Hatori hesitated. He wasn't even sure what he expected. Understanding? He shook his head at the vain belief. "Why did you call me, Shigure?"
"Oh? Changing the subject now, are we? Well I rang because I'm a little concerned over Romiko. She's been quite pale lately and her eyes were slightly bloodshot. Like she hasn't been sleeping."
"Did you ask her?"
"Well… no."
"Then what do you want me to do about it? I can hardly sleep these nights; it's just how it is. Her friend is dying, how would you feel? Lying in bed each night with nothing but the thought of losing Aiska on your mind?"
"I suppose you're right, Ha'ri. But I do wish you wouldn't tell me to imagine such a thing. Aiska… or Romiko." Shigure sighed dreamily.
"I swear you should be arrested." Hatori promptly hung up in disgust.
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'What do I want? I don't know anymore.' Akito scowled as he leant against the window, staring into the horizon, stained pink and orange with the setting sun. He did not have to wait long until he noticed the shadow of a young woman fall across the entrance. His face was emotionless as he found himself leaning against the gate, watching her every move as she approached. Their eyes finally met as Aiska paused, her brow furrowing in concern.
"Akito Sohma, a pleasure to see you again." She bowed her head in respect. He merely cocked his head to study her.
"I'm still waiting for my kimono." His voice was as emotionless as his eyes.
"I would be happy to return it tomorrow. In return for my own clothes, of course." She replied solemnly. He looked down his nose at her as she shifted her bag to her other shoulder. Akito waved a hand dismissively as he turned to leave.
"I won't expect you to stay tomorrow." He remarked coolly over his shoulder as he turned from her.
Aiska stood frozen to the spot as she watched Akito vanish into the darkness from which he had appeared.
'That man has some serious issues.' Aiska thought with a scowl as she shook her head in annoyance and continued on her way.
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"What's with the sour look?" Romiko remarked as Aiska dumped her things in the hallway and kicked her shoes off.
"I just had a strange encounter with one Akito Sohma."
"Not him again! What happened?"
"He materialises out of no where, demands me return his kimono tomorrow, tells me I needed have to bother staying, then vanishes again! He didn't even say goodbye." Aiska snarled, collapsing into a nearby seat.
"Told you, you should have returned the kimono weeks ago." Romiko scolded as she jabbed a thumb towards the kimono still hanging on the hall tree.
"But all this for a stupid kimono? If anything I should be the one demanding the return of my clothes!"
"Calm down, you can sort everything out tomorrow."
"Oh, we'll sort everything out tomorrow, don't you worry." Aiska smiled slyly, ignoring Romiko's frown.
"No violence!"
"But…"
"I said no violence."
"Ok, ok. Don't need to give me that look." Aiska muttered as she wandered upstairs to get changed.
"Good!" Romiko sang cheerfully as she went back to her cooking.
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Hatori beeped the horn one last time being finally dragging himself from his car. He quickly made his way onto the porch and promptly knocked. A flustered Romiko threw the door open, catching Hatori by surprise.
"Will you help me?"
"What is it?"
"It's Aiska." Hatori felt his heart jump. "She refuses to see this Akito person." His heart instantly crashed again. He managed to hide a grimace of annoyance as Romiko bustled him inside.
"Aiska? What's the matter?" Hatori knocked on her door.
"I will not see that man just because he bid me to! Maybe if he actually asked nicely, but since he didn't, screw him!" Hatori ran his fingers through his hair. He had definitely not anticipated this.
"Oh Aiska? Please?" Romiko called.
"Why should I?"
"You seemed all right with it last night."
"That was last night! This is now!"
"Was it a nightmare?" Romiko's question was met with a momentary silence. Hatori turned a puzzled gaze to Romiko.
"She's been having nightmares lately, not sleeping." Romiko replied, loud enough for Aiska to hear.
"It's not important!" She snapped.
"Maybe I should…"
"You should what?" Aiska threw her door open, revealing herself to be dressed in a simple knee length, traditional yukata, with a pale sapphire kimono over the top that swept the floor as she moved. Hatori had the desire to look away from the woman who reminded him so much of Akito. She was slightly shorter than the man, but had the same fiery glare that Akito had when he was enraged.
"You need your rest, and Akito needs his kimono…"
"Then you give it to him!"
"And what about your own clothes?" Aiska hesitated, biting her lip. "Surely you are not afraid…"
"I am not afraid!" She hissed.
"Then perhaps you should prove it to him by coming."
"Fine then! I'll prove to you all I'm not afraid of anything!" Aiska snarled, slamming the door again.
"What are you…?"
"Getting dressed." Aiska replied shortly as Romiko had to stifle a laugh.
"What?" He asked, raising an eyebrow.
"That was very tactful of you, doctor." She smiled. He merely shrugged as they trudged downstairs together.
"Why does this Akito wish to see Aiska?" Hatori merely sighed, unsure of the answer himself as he leant against the doorframe, waiting for Aiska to make her appearance.
Eventually Aiska descended, wearing a knee-length suede skirt, boots and a coat over the top. She cast them both a sullen glance as she brushed past them, plucking the kimono from the hall tree on her way past.
"Well come on, I'd rather get this over and done with, if you please." She remarked over her shoulder as she leant against Hatori's car.
"Take care, Aiska." Romiko called after her.
"I'll be back soon, Romiko." She replied as she dropped into the car. Hatori cast Romiko a small smile as he vanished into the car. Romiko waited until the car was out of sight before heading back inside.
The ride for Aiska and Hatori was unnervingly silent as Aiska busied herself with the passing scenery.
"You will have to forgive Akito, tact has never been his strong point." Hatori glanced to Aiska, who merely shifted uncomfortably in her seat. Once they had pulled into the driveway of the Sohma estate, Hatori cut the engine and turned to Aiska. "I never told him. It is not my right to do so." Aiska raised an eyebrow as she turned to him.
"I'll be honest, I don't like the man much. I personally don't wish to stay, and I won't trouble you to drive me home, I'd rather walk." She did not wait for Hatori to reply as she got out. She walked up the stairs of the porch and turned to Hatori.
"Where…?"
Hatori nodded towards a nearby door. "Straight down the hall, he's in the room on the end."
"Thank you, Hatori."
The entire building was eerily still. She shivered nervously as she paused before the last door, raising her hand to knock.
"Enter." The voice spoke before her hand had even touched the door. She hesitated before gently sliding the door open and slipping into the room.
I seem to end chapters on really bad cliff hangers, don't I? -giggles-
I'm writing it! Don't panic!